Nurse Practitioner - Wound Care

-May be entitled to translation/bilingual, shift or other wage premiums as governed by the applicable collective bargaining agreement. Please refer to the respective collective bargaining agreement for additional information on such wage premiums:

Job Summary

The Certified Wound/Ostomy/Continence (CWOC) Nurse Practitioner (NP) provides quality, cost-effective management of a caseload of outpatients, in the Colorado Region who have complex wound, ostomy, and continence care needs. Upon referral the CWOC NP collaborates with physicians and other healthcare providers, when needed. The CWOC NP assesses and formulates the plan of care. The CWOC NP, implements and continually reevaluates patient plan of care. The CWOC NP provides expert consultation, coordination of services and education for patients and families and the healthcare team to achieve optimal patient care in the and adequate staff knowledge of wound and ostomy care. The major clinical focus of this position varies to include patient in the outpatient department and collaboration with other healthcare providers in the hospital, home care, and long-term care as needed.

Essential Responsibilities

• Wound, Ostomy, Continence Care: The CWOC NP collaborates with hospital, outpatient chronic wound clinics, home health/hospice in multiple locations throughout the region. Assesses, examines, counsels, and determines plan of care for prevention and healing of wounds, ostomy and continence care. Determines and orders appropriate topical products, compression therapy, sharp debridement, referrals to specialty providers, labs and x-rays and protocols based on established KPCO and WOCN Societys standards of care within scope of practice. Organizes and forms the plan of care for patients ostomy care and rehabilitation through assessment, examination, pre-and post-operative teaching, counseling and recommending treatment and product use. Acts as an expert resource for staff and utilizes knowledge in clinical areas of practice.
• Collaborates with physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, and other healthcare providers in hospital, clinic, home health/hospice and skilled nursing facilities regarding wound, ostomy, and continence management for individual patients; recommends plan of care to promote healing, contain drainage, and promote skin integrity.
• Wound and Ostomy Care Education and Consultation: Consults with contracted home health agencies, Kaiser Permanente utilization reviewer, and primary care clinicians regarding appropriate clinical wound, ostomy and continence care and utilization for home care and skilled nursing facility patients. Provides formal education of nursing, medical, and other healthcare staff regarding wound and ostomy management. Actively participates/leads committees/task forces as needed. Educates team on financial implications of supply and equipment usage. Develops state-of-the‑art protocols, staff and patient written resources in collaboration with regional other KP CWOC NPs and CWOC nurses.
• Consults with local outpatient materials management, pharmacy, reception staff regarding issues related to the delivery of effective wound/ostomy/continence care.
• Quality Management/Utilization: Participates in quality management/improvement activities in the CO Region as appropriate, including occurrence reporting, focused studies, process and outcome measurement and continuous quality improvement projects. Consults with DME, Materials Management regarding optimum use of supplies and equipment. Participates as a member of the CWOC NP/Nurse team, including team meeting and case conferences. Supports quality management plans at the UBT level. Performs other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

Experience

• Minimum two (2) years of NP nursing experience in home care, long‑term care, hospital or ambulatory care clinic setting.
• Minimum one (1) year of wound and/or ostomy experience.

Education

• Masters Degree in Nursing.

License, Certification, Registration

• Driver's License (Colorado)
• Nurse Practitioner License (Colorado)
• Registered Nurse License (Colorado)
• Nurse Practitioner‑Family Certification
• Basic Life Support required at hire
• Drug Enforcement Administration Registration
• National Provider Identifier
• Wound Ostomy Continence Nurse Certificate within 12 months of hire

Additional Requirements

• Must meet credentialing requirements established for Nurse Practitioners.
• Current evidence‑based knowledge of wound, ostomy, and continence nursing practice.
• Experience with vascular assessment, including Doppler measurement of arterial flow.
• Knowledge/ experience with all kinds of debridement including sharp wound debridement.
• Ability to complete concise, thorough clinical documentation of patient assessments and care.
• Working knowledge of quality management and resource utilization methodologies.
• Thorough knowledge of universal infection control.
• Presents in‑service training.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Problem‑solving, organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work in interdisciplinary team as a consultant and direct care provider.
• Able to provide continuous patient education in alliance with WOCN standards.
• Demonstration of customer‑focused service skills.
• Ability to proficiently operate personal computer.
• Must have sufficient manual dexterity to perform precise procedures, such as limited sharp debridement.
• Employees are required to follow all prescribed safety precautions and procedures in order to avoid accidents, exposure to illness, or placing themselves in situations of high risk for injury. When caregivers or equipment are not available to assist, then have discussion with a Supervisor to discuss alternative care arrangements for the patient.
• Physical requirements include: Ability to stand, sit, walk, crawl, climb, bend, stoop, squat, twist, manual dexterity (to perform debridement procedures), and drive a vehicle throughout assigned shift hours.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum three (3) years of CWOC NP experience in home health, long‑term care, hospital or clinic.
• Work experience at Kaiser Permanente.
• Effective communication skills.
• Knowledge of Medicare regulations.
• Skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, digital photography.
• Certified Wound Ostomy Continence (CWOC) preferred.